Convertible and disposable picnic basket and table top device



July 16, 1963 s; KOROPATKlN ETAL' CONVERTIBLE AND DISPOSABLE PICNIC BASKET AND TABLE TOP DEVICE Filed May 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r INVENTORS fimyav Kmamrmw lMflV/IV M A/MZE Y 2.2.;

y ATTORNEY July 16, 1963 s. KOROPATKIN ETAL 3,097,782

CONVERTIBLE AND DISPOSABLE PICNIC BASKET 1mm TABLE TOP DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1961 mvzmon's'. wrap/v5 ram/ ,4, 170

Ma w/v 1% Milk ATTORNEY July 16, 1963 s. KOROPATKIN ETAL 3,097,782

I CONVERTIBLE AND DISPOSABLE PICNIC BASKET AND TABLE TOP DEVICE ,F'iled May 22, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVENTORS: Prime/v fieo/urm/ A/zzmv A oazs BY ATTORN Y A I u I 1 I u I n 1 I I I n n a n p I a 1 a I I a p l I I p I I I I I p I 1 I I I I 1 1 I I p I l i I u I I I u I I United States This invention relates to a picnic device which is convertible from a transporting container to a stationary table setting.

The device of the present invention comprises, initial- 1y, a substantially rectangular or square, stiff or semi-stifi cardboard flat sheet or the like, which, by means of properly arranged fold lines can be transformed into a box container, and vice-versa. The particular fold lines are arranged in such a manner that corner portions of the sheet are formed into wing folds which enable the sheet readily to assume a box-likc shape and which enwrap the container to enhance its load strength.

Furthermore, a novel arrangement of apertures and sliding cords therein is provided whereby the pulling of the cords automatically transforms the sheet into a carrying container which can then be carried by said cords serving as a shoulder strap or as hand carrying means.

By virtue of the novel arrangement of fold lines, apertures, and lacing of the cords in the sheet, there is provided a device that is initially useful for carrying food, beverages, and picnic and beach paraphernalia to the picnic or beach site where the device is readily converted to a flat dining surface either on a table or on the ground. After it has served its purposes in the flat condition, the device is readily refoldable by operation of the carrying cords into a container which may function either to carry the paraphernalia away again, or in which table scraps and other waste matter may be carried for disposal in a refuse can or incinerator.

In some embodiments, eating utensils may be attached to one or more portions of the sheet so that the utility of the device may be enhanced. Said utensils, comprising plates and tableware, may either be attached directly to the surface of the sheet, or placed in sealed bags to preserve their cleanliness. Upon collapsing the device from the container form to the flat sheet form, the utensils may readily be detached and placed upon the sheet ready for use.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification.

The features of novelty which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as to their fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device in the folded form showing the manner in which it may be carried on the shoulder;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the device may be carried by hand;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in outline form, showing the manner in which the device is laid flat as a picnic table, as well as the manner in which it is almost completely folded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly in dotted outline, of the device in the form of a picnic table showing the manner in which the carrying cords are laced through the device, and the manner in which the utensils may be attached thereto;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the device shown in FIG. 4;

atent FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device as it is being refolded into the box-like condition;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged top view showing the device as it appears folded in the form of a box;

FIG. 8 is a still further enlarged fragmentary partial section view, taken on line 88 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view, taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the device of the present invention comprises basically a substantially square sheet of heavy stiffened paper, cardboard, or other suitable material, generally designated 11, which in one embodiment may measure approximately three feet on each side thereof (FIGS. 3 and 4). Sheet 11 is divided into a checkerboard pattern of nine substantially equal square panels 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, said divisions being defined by scored or fold lines 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 3t), 31 and 32, by means well known in the art. Each corner panel 12, 14, 18- and 20 has a diagonal fold or score line 35, 36, 3'7 and 38, respectively, which extends from the inner corner to the apical corner thereof.

Each corner panel 12, 14, 18 and 20 has a pair of spaced apart holes 41 and 42 whose imaginary connecting line is arrayed at approximately a right angle to the respective diagonal score lines 35, 36, 37 and 38, respectively.

Two of the peripheral panels, namely 13 and 19, are each provided with a pair of spaced apart holes 43 and 44 Whose imaginary connecting lines are arrayed substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, the outer edges of said respective panels.

Laced through each set of holes defined by numerals 41, 42, 43 and 44, is a flexible, endless carrying cord, generally designated 46 and 47, respectively, and made of rope, twine or other suitable material.

By virtue of the scoring of lines 21-32, sheet 11 is foldable into a substantially cubical box or container, generally designated 49, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7. It will be noted that each corner panel 12, 14, 18 and 20, when folded along its respective score lines, forms substantially triangular wings 51, 52, 53 and 54, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6.

While sheet 11 lies flat, as shown in FIG. 4, cords 46 and 47 are grasped at their respective mid section portions 56 and 57 at the interior surfaces of panels 13 and 19, respectively (FIGS. 4, 6), and pulled upwardly. The tensioning of said cords causes portions 58 and 59 thereof automatically to fold pairs of wings 51, 52 and 53, 54, one over the other into a criss-cross array, and to raise panels 13 and 19 into vertical positions (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6), so that a substantially cubical box is formed, panel 16 serving as the bottom thereof. The inward folding of pairs of wings 51, 52 and 53, 54 also causes panels 15 and 17 to rise into the vertical position. The pulling of portions 56 and 57 of cords 46 :and 47, respectively, causes said cords to slide through groups of holes 41, 42, 43 and 44, respectively. Said cords become shortened on the outside of the box and become lengthened from the interior thereof so that said cords may be utilized as shoulder carrying means, as shown in FIG. 1. The portions 58 and 59 of cords 46 and 47, respectively, urge pairs of Wings 51, 52 and 53, 54 together so that they reinforce their respective sides of the boxes and are maintained in a folded condition While said box is being transported.

Alternatively, the mid sections of portions 58 and 59 of cords 46 and 47 may also be grasped, together with portions 56 and 57 thereof, to produce a doubled carrying cord on each side of the box, as shown in FIG. 2. Here also, the cords urge pairs of wings 51, 52, and 53, 54,

into close proximity with the side walls of the 'box and enhance the carrying strength thereof.

When the box 49 is carried to a place where it is desired to utilize it as a table covering or picnic setting, the box is placed upon the ground or upon a table, and the cords 46 and 47 are released. Upon loosening of the cord tension, the sides of the box are readily pushed manually outwardly whereby wings 51, 52, 53 and 54 become unfolded into open panels 12, 14, 18 and 20, and said panels, as well as panels 13, 15, 17 and 19, assume a fiat position, as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

On the interior surface of any one or all of panels 13, 15, 17 and 19 of sheet 11, there is attached by means of staple 61, or the like, one end of a container or bag 62 made of a suitable material such as cellophane, plastic, wax paper, or the like. Positioned within each bag 62 is a set of tableware which may comprise a disposable plate 63, knife 64, fork 65, spoon 66, and napkin 67. These utensils may be made of a suitable material such as plastic, cardboard, or the like. The knife, fork and spoon may be secured to the plate by means of a strip of pressure sensitive tape 68. Staple 61 secures one portion of the bag to the outer area of the respective panel while the remainder of the bag is foldable inwardly to a position Where its other end is secured to the inner surface of said panel by means of a pair of strips 69 of pressure sensitive tape. (FIGS. 4, 5, 8.)

In some embodiments it may be preferably or desirable to provide only one bag 62 connected to the interior surface of only one of the side panels of the box, said bag containing a sutficient number of utensils and tableware for service of any desired number of people.

When the sheet 11 is unfolded into the flat position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, bags 62 can be readily detached from their respective panels and the utensils removed therefrom and spread on the sheet ready for use. After sheet 11 has served its purpose as a picnic or dining area, cords 46 and 47 may again be manipulated as in FIG. 6, to cause the refolding of pairs of wings 51, 52 and 53, 54 and the rising of the various panels into the form of a cubical box, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this condition table scraps, refuse and used utensils may be placed into the box and carried away from the picnic or dining area and disposed of in a suitable garbage receptacle or incinerator.

In some embodiments, there may be attached to the top inner surface of each opposing panel 13 and 19 by means of stapling or pasting, upwardly extending flexible tabs 71 and 72, respectively. When box 49 is folded, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, tabs 71 and 72 are bent over the top edges of the respective panels and of the two triangular folded wings, and the end portions of said tabs are inserted into respective suitable slots 73 and 74 cut in at least one of the triangular sections as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9. Thus, tabs 71 and 72 provide further security to box 49 by maintaining the top portions of the pairs of wings 51, 52 and 53, 54 against the top portions of panels 13 and 19, respectively. Alternatively, tabs 71 and 72 may be formed as an integral extension of panels 13 and 19, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9.

By forming folded wings out of each of the corner panels, it is possible not only to transform an initially flat sheet into a cubical container, but said wings also serve to enclose the vertical corners of the container and to serve as backing members for two sides of the box. Since the sheet is integral both in the flat and in box-like form, it is possible to provide a substantially leak-proof container which may be utilized to transport liquids when that is necessary or desirable. This maybe graphically apparent by inspection of the partially folded device shown in FIG. 6. In such event, the sheet may be impregnated with moistureresistant materials or coated with suitable paints or plastics which are impervious to various types of liquid substances. In some embodiments, sheet 11 may comprise a synthetic plastic material which may be washable and re- 4 usable. In other embodiments, the panels constituting the sheet may be formed in other rectangular sizes by suitable arrangement of fold lines in order to make deeper or shallower containers and to vary the length and width thereof.

I claim:

1. A foldable container comprising a rectangular sheet, said sheet being divided by fold lines into a checkerboard pattern consisting of nine panels, four of said panels being arrayed at the respective corners of said sheet, a pair of spaced apart apertures in each of said corner panels, an outwardly extending diagonal fold line in each of said four corner panels, the apertures in said corner panels being disposed on opposite sides of said diagonal fold line and a pair of endless cords, each of said cords being slidably laced through the apertures of a pair of corner panels and through an intermediate panel therebetween in series on opposite sides of said sheet, each cord being laced on the inner side of the respective corner panels the tensioning of each cord causing the two respective corner panels engaged thereby to fold outwardly along their diagonal fold lines and to form triangularly shaped wings, said wings being caused by the tensioning of said cord to fold fiat one over the other over the outer surface of the panel intermediate said two corner panels.

2. A foldable container comprising a rectangular sheet, said sheet being divided by fold lines into a checkerboard pattern consisting of nine panels, a pair of spaced apart apertures in each of the corner panels of said sheet, an outwardly extending diagonal fold line in each of the four corner panels of said sheet, the apertures in each of said corner panels being disposed on opposite sides of said diagonal fold line, said corner panels being foldable into triangularly shaped wings when all of the panels positioned intermediate said corner panels are raised in respect of the center panel, and a pair of endless cords, each of said cords being laced slidably through the apertures of a separate pair of corner panels and through a panel intermediate said corner panels, each cord being laced on the inner side of the respective corner panels the simultaneous tensioning of both of said cords causing said triaangular wings to form as the intermediate panels assume a position substantially perpendicula to the central panel, said triangular wings in each pair of corner panels folding flat one over the other against the outside surface of their respective intermediate panel and being urged against said intermediate panel by said respective cord.

3. A foldable container comprising a rectangular sheet, said sheet being divided by fold lines into a checkerboard pattern consisting of nine panels, a pair of spaced apart apertures in each of the corner panels of said sheet, a pair of endless cords, each of said cords being laced through three panels in series on opposite sides of said sheet, and an outwardly extending diagonal fold in the two corner panels engaged by each cord, the apertures in each of said corner panels being disposed on opposite sides of said diagonal fold line and each cord being laced on the inner side of the respective corner panels the tensioning of each cord causing the two respective corner panels to fold outwardly along their diagonal fold lines and to form triangularly shaped wings, said wings being caused by the tensioning of said cord to fold flat one over the other over the outer surface of the panel intermediate said two corner panels as all of said panels rise in respect of the center panel of said sheet.

4. A foldable container comprising a rectangular sheet, said sheet being divided by fold lines into a checkerboard pattern consisting of nine panels, an outwardly extending diagonal fold line in each of the four corner panels of said sheet, two endless cords, a pair of spaced apart apertures disposed on opposite sides of the diagonal fold line in each of the corner panels, each endless cord extending through the apertures and disposed on the inner side of two laterally positioned corner panels on opposite sides of said sheet, and a pair of spaced apart apertures in the panel positioned intermediate the two corner panels engaged by a respective cord, said cord extending also through the apertures of said intermediate panel, the tensioning of each cord causing the two respective corner panels to -fold outwardly along their diagonal fold lines and to form triangularly shaped wings, the tensioni-ng of both of said cords causing the panels to rise in respect of the central panel and causing the wings of each pair of corner panels to fold one over the other on the outer surface of the respective intermediate panel.

5. A foldable container comprising a rectangular sheet, said sheet being divided by fold lines into checkerboard pattern consisting of nine panels, an outwardly extending diagonal fold line in each of the four corner panels of said sheet, two endless cords, a pair of spaced apart apertures in each of the corner panels and disposed on opposite sides of said diagonal fold line, each endless cord extending through the apertures and disposed on the inside of two laterally positioned corner panels on opposite sides of said sheet, and a pair of spaced apart apertures in the panel positioned intermediate the two corner panels engaged by a respective cord, said cord extending also through the apertures of said intermediate panel, the tensioning of each cor-d causing the two respective corner panels to fold outwardly along their diagonal fold lines and to form triangularly shaped wings, the tensioning of both of said cords causing the panels to rise in respect of the central panel and causing the wings of each pair of corner panels to fold one over the other on the outer surface of the respective intermediate panel, said cords when under tension engaging said respective wings and urging them against the outer surface of the respective intermediate panel.

6. A foldable container comprising a sheet, said sheet being divided into a checkerboard pattern consisting of three sets of three longitudinally arrayed rectangular panels each, two of said sets being on opposite sides of a central set, the four corner panels of said sheet having an outwardly extending diagonal fold line, fold lines between all adjacent panels, two endless cords, a pair of spaced apart apertures in each of those panels intermediate a pair of corner panels in each set, said pair of apertures being located near the outer edge of its respective panel, and a pair of spaced apart apertures in each of the corner panels, said corner panel apertures defining between them a line intersecting said first mentioned diagonal fold line in the respective corn'er panel, said apertures in said corner panels being disposed on opposite sides of said diagonal fold line each of said cords being laced through the apertures of two corner panels on the inner side thereof and through the apertures of the panel therebetween on each side of said sheet, the tensioning of each of said cords causing said respective corner panels to =fold outwardly along their diagonal fold lines and to form triangularly shaped wings, and to cause all of the panels excepting the center panel of said sheet to move upwardly to form a box-like structure, said wings being caused by the tension-ing of said cords to fold one over the other on the outer surface of the panel positioned therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 117,833 Laine Nov. 28, 1939 1,509,454 Unser Sept. 23, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS 462,468 Italy Mar. 21, 1951 

6. A FOLDABLE CONTAINER COMPRISING A SHEET, SAID SHEET BEING DIVIDED INTO A CHECKERBOARD PATTERN CONSISTING OF THREE SETS OF THREE LONGITUDINALLY ARRAYED RECTANGULAR PANELS EACH, TWO OF SAID SETS BEING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A CENTRAL SET, THE FOUR CORNER PANELS OF SAID SHEET HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING DIAGONAL FOLD LINE, FOLD LINES BETWEEN ALL ADJACENT PANELS, TWO ENDLESS CORDS, A PAIR OF SPACED APART APERTURES IN EACH OF THOSE PANELS INTERMEDIATE A PAIR OF CORNER PANELS IN EACH SET, SAID PAIR OF APERTURES BEING LOCATED NEAR THE OUTER EDGE OF ITS RESPECTIVE PANEL, AND A PAIR OF SPACED APART APERTURES IN EACH OF THE CORNER PANELS, SAID CORNER PANEL APERTURES DEFINING BETWEEN THEM A LINE INTERSECTING SAID FIRST MENTIONED DIAGONAL FOLD LINE IN THE RESPECTIVE CORNER PANEL, SAID APERTURES IN SAID CORNER PANELS BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DIAGONAL FOLD LINE EACH OF SAID CORDS BEING LACED THROUGH THE APERTURES OF TWO CORNER PANELS ON THE INNER SIDE THEREOF AND THROUGH THE APERTURES OF THE PANEL THEREBETWEEN ON EACH SIDE OF SAID SHEET, THE TENSIONING OF EACH OF SAID CORDS CAUSING SAID RESPECTIVE CORNER PANELS TO FOLD OUTWARDLY ALONG THEIR DIAGONAL FOLD LINES AND TO FORM TRIANGULARLY SHAPED WINGS, AND TO CAUSE ALL OF THE PANELS EXCEPTING THE CENTER PANEL OF SAID SHEET TO MOVE UPWARDLY TO FORM A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE, SAID WINGS BEING CAUSED BY THE TENSIONING OF SAID CORDS TO FOLD ONE OVER THE OTHER ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE PANEL POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN. 